Board hears about cost of adding middle school sports

Published: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 9:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 9:20 p.m.

Davidson County Schools reviewed the possibility of expanding its athletic program Monday at the middle school level.

Jay Temple, director of auxiliary services for the county, and Dr. Phil Rapp, the system's special projects director, presented the board with a preliminary draft on cost projections if the system decides to add baseball and volleyball to its list of sports. Currently the middle schools have football, girls and boys basketball and softball.

Temple said the draft is just a projection and is not concrete. He said that expanding the program is something principals at the middle schools have been asked to consider. He noted that no changes would happen by next school year. He suggested reviewing and planning for the two extra sports during the next year.

The estimated starting total for the expansion would be $59,325. That cost is 20 uniforms each for baseball and volleyball. The amount also includes miscellaneous items such as pitcher's mound, bases, equipment, baseballs, bats, field liners, installation of bases in the gymnasium, volleyballs, bags, painting/taping floors and official's stands.

Rapp noted that if everything was purchased as a unit, it would be cheaper.

The document reported the status of practice fields the schools would have to use if the additional sports were added:

• E. Lawson Brown Middle School athletes would have to be transported three miles to Hughes Park.

• Central Davidson Middle School could either transport one mile away to Bethany Church field or build a practice field at an estimated cost of $175,000.

• North Davidson Middle School could upgrade its existing field and provide padding for pod building at minimal cost.

• Ledford Middle School can move a fence on the field to accommodate space.

• Oak Grove Middle School has a ball field option already in its budget.

• South Davidson Middle School could either transport to Denton Elementary School four miles away (minimal costs would cover the upgrade) or build a practice field between $175,000 to $225,000.

• Tyro Middle School could use its existing field after upgrades at minimal cost.

Salaries for baseball head coaches and assistant coaches, and volleyball head coaches would range from a combined total of $16,688 to $28,252. After adding up initial startup costs, salaries, field repairs to existing fields and transportation to practice fields, the system has estimated the cost at $82,013 from the low end or $93,577 to the high end.

The board will review the information and discuss it later.

"It's long overdue," said Alan Beck, board member.

In other news, the board:

• Voted Catherine Gentry as the interim principal of Davidson Early College High School succeeding Dr. Larry Allred, who is retiring. The change starts Feb. 1 to June 30.

Gentry, who was an English teacher at the early college, has been with the system since 2000. Her teaching career started in 1994 Winston-Salem. She joined the county schools in 2000 as an assistant principal for three years until she became the principal for two years. In 2005 Gentry was the assistant principal at West Davidson High School until 2009 when she went back into the classroom at the early college.

She received a secondary education/English degree from Clemson University in 1994 and a master's degree in school administration in 2000 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Gentry is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in educational leadership from High Point University.

• Discussed the system's safety procedures in light of the shootings in Newton, Conn. Temple wanted the board and public to know school officials have been meeting with the Davidson County Sheriff's Department.

He said the system and the sheriff's department have been doing the things necessary to provide a safe environment for the students. He noted that each school has its own individual plan and the sheriff's department is in the process of developing more plans.

"Are we doing anything different? Yes. Are our kids safe? Yes. There are as safe as we can possibly make them," Temple said.

• Approved Floor Action Inc. to replace the gym floors at Central Davidson and Ledford middle schools this summer. The total bid amount was $133,744.

Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.

<p>Davidson County Schools reviewed the possibility of expanding its athletic program Monday at the middle school level.</p><p>Jay Temple, director of auxiliary services for the county, and Dr. Phil Rapp, the system's special projects director, presented the board with a preliminary draft on cost projections if the system decides to add baseball and volleyball to its list of sports. Currently the middle schools have football, girls and boys basketball and softball.</p><p>Temple said the draft is just a projection and is not concrete. He said that expanding the program is something principals at the middle schools have been asked to consider. He noted that no changes would happen by next school year. He suggested reviewing and planning for the two extra sports during the next year.</p><p>The estimated starting total for the expansion would be $59,325. That cost is 20 uniforms each for baseball and volleyball. The amount also includes miscellaneous items such as pitcher's mound, bases, equipment, baseballs, bats, field liners, installation of bases in the gymnasium, volleyballs, bags, painting/taping floors and official's stands.</p><p>Rapp noted that if everything was purchased as a unit, it would be cheaper.</p><p>The document reported the status of practice fields the schools would have to use if the additional sports were added:</p><p>• E. Lawson Brown Middle School athletes would have to be transported three miles to Hughes Park. </p><p>• Central Davidson Middle School could either transport one mile away to Bethany Church field or build a practice field at an estimated cost of $175,000.</p><p>• North Davidson Middle School could upgrade its existing field and provide padding for pod building at minimal cost.</p><p>• Ledford Middle School can move a fence on the field to accommodate space.</p><p>• Oak Grove Middle School has a ball field option already in its budget.</p><p>• South Davidson Middle School could either transport to Denton Elementary School four miles away (minimal costs would cover the upgrade) or build a practice field between $175,000 to $225,000.</p><p>• Tyro Middle School could use its existing field after upgrades at minimal cost.</p><p>Salaries for baseball head coaches and assistant coaches, and volleyball head coaches would range from a combined total of $16,688 to $28,252. After adding up initial startup costs, salaries, field repairs to existing fields and transportation to practice fields, the system has estimated the cost at $82,013 from the low end or $93,577 to the high end.</p><p>The board will review the information and discuss it later.</p><p>"It's long overdue," said Alan Beck, board member.</p><p>In other news, the board:</p><p>• Voted Catherine Gentry as the interim principal of Davidson Early College High School succeeding Dr. Larry Allred, who is retiring. The change starts Feb. 1 to June 30.</p><p> Gentry, who was an English teacher at the early college, has been with the system since 2000. Her teaching career started in 1994 Winston-Salem. She joined the county schools in 2000 as an assistant principal for three years until she became the principal for two years. In 2005 Gentry was the assistant principal at West Davidson High School until 2009 when she went back into the classroom at the early college.</p><p>She received a secondary education/English degree from Clemson University in 1994 and a master's degree in school administration in 2000 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Gentry is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in educational leadership from High Point University.</p><p>• Discussed the system's safety procedures in light of the shootings in Newton, Conn. Temple wanted the board and public to know school officials have been meeting with the Davidson County Sheriff's Department.</p><p>He said the system and the sheriff's department have been doing the things necessary to provide a safe environment for the students. He noted that each school has its own individual plan and the sheriff's department is in the process of developing more plans.</p><p>"Are we doing anything different? Yes. Are our kids safe? Yes. There are as safe as we can possibly make them," Temple said. </p><p>• Approved Floor Action Inc. to replace the gym floors at Central Davidson and Ledford middle schools this summer. The total bid amount was $133,744.</p><p>Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.</p>